The home and business operations of a Buxton, East Coast Demerara family were reduced to ashes yesterday after a fire struck around noon.
A neighbouring house was also partially damaged.
The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation.
The fire started at around 12 pm at Lot 46 Buxton Railway Embank-ment, ECD in the front bedroom. The structure was a two-storey wooden house.
Stabroek News understands that within minutes the house was completely engulfed in flames and stretched across to the neighbouring house.
Neighbours after becoming aware of the fire sounded an alarm and made efforts to assist the families. Over at the neighbour’s house, efforts were made to save household items as the house had already caught afire.
The fire service was also summoned to the scene.
Delroy Scott, a grandson of the owner of the house and the owner of the shop, that was destroyed in the fire told Stabroek News that he was not at home when the fire started. He explained that he learnt that the fire started in the bedroom and the house was within minutes consumed by the fire.
He told this newspaper that they were unable to save anything from the house.
Meanwhile, the owner of the neighbouring house, Janet Thompson also known as Ann Pollydore told Stabroek News that she was changing her clothing when a granddaughter sounded the alarm.
“…I in the bedroom when I hear my granddaughter said `fire!’ When I peep and look in the room I see this fire from next door in the bedroom blazing all I could ah do was run and get clothes to put on because I know this is an old house and the fire will reach over here,” the elderly woman said.
She noted that she managed to quickly pick up her important documents and made it out of the house.
Like others, she too, explained that the fire started in the front bedroom of her neighbour’s home.
According to Thompson, she had to plead with the firefighters to soak her house in order for it to be saved from further damage.
The woman noted that though only a part of her house was damaged her losses are great as parts of her living room, washroom and bedroom were damaged. She noted too they suffered massive water damage.
The elderly woman added that tablets and a computer which her grandchildren use for school were also damaged.
The affected families said that they are willing to accept any form of assistance from members of the public as they aim to rebuild their lives.
Scott can be contacted on 685-0097 while Thompson can be reached at 602-2519 or 677-7124.
